“Long Shadows” New oil painting of White Rock Lake

June 17, 2011

“Long Shadows” White Rock Lake ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” oil on canvas

Sunset draws lengthening shadows across the grassy waters edge at Sunset Bay, White Rock. The lake shimmers in the evening glow as sky high above fills with deep blues and before you the soft, moody colors stretch out, long lines beckoning you into the complex diagonal composition. Rich texture models the leaves, branches and tree trunk rimmed in the sunset and shadow. Vivid masses of color form the foliage on the opposite bank, fall at its peak. The long cast shadows draw you into the tranquil landscape and the peaceful, dreamy sunset at White Rock Lake.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Turtle Creek Morning” – New oil painting

June 15, 2011

“Turtle Creek Morning” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” oil on wrap around canvas

Early on a fall morning the sun breaks softly, dreamlike, through leafy branches and casts early autumn’s golden palette across the creek. Silent water is ruffled by a gentle breeze. Arching over, bending into the quiet waters, a tree is mirrored encompassing, embracing –this painting captures the dreamy reflections and tranquil landscape of one of my favorite spots to paint near my home. It is painted in the traditional plein air oil manner, incorporating some heavy texture.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Cascading Rhythms” new textured waterfall painting

June 13, 2011

“Cascading Rhythms” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” textured oil on canvas

Water pounds its way down the falls: cascading, rushing, charging into the riverbed — flowing over rocks, swiftly moving forward. Untamed, the water finds its way over, under, around the boulder-strewn river. Tumbling waters drive up mists above the falls, the rhythmic sounds create a soothing harmony below. Autumn’s low light casts long lines through the Aspen trees and glowing verge.

Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Choices Await” new White Rock Lake painting

June 10, 2011

“Choices Await” ©2011 Niki Gulley
12” x 24” textured oil on wrap around canvas

Every day brings a choice – where should you go? Which path should you take? Life awaits you and this artwork says that you have everything before you: your “Choices Await” you. This masterful V shaped composition pulls you into the painting of still waters, reflected reeds and trees creating a sense of calm and meditation. Bring home this beautiful memory of White Rock Lake and each day it will challenge you to be bold, be decisive.

To see the contemplative “Choices Await” and more of Niki Gulley’s textured palette knife oil paintings in person, please stop by her booth at Wells Street Art Show.
Saturday June 10 from 11 am to 8 pm and
Sunday June 11 from noon to 6 pm.
Chicago, IL • On N. Wells St., between North Ave. & Division
Booth #118 & 120
Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

“Vertical Aspirations” New textured aspen oil painting

June 8, 2011

“Vertical Aspirations” ©2011 Niki Gulley
48” x 36” textured oil on canvas

In this painting I wanted you to feel that child-like wonder of staring up in into the treetops and the heavens above. Choosing vibrant, cheerful yellows contrasted against a crystal blue sky and arranging the aspens in a circular pattern heightened by thick, curving paint strokes, both add to that joyful, playful feeling of hope and discovery.

To see Vertical Aspirations and more of Niki Gulley’s textured aspen and birch oil paintings, visit her booth, #120, at the Wells Street Art Show this weekend in downtown Chicago.
Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

New Textured Waterfall painting at Wells Street Art Show, Chicago

June 6, 2011

“Rushing Desires” ©2011 Niki Gulley
60” x 36” textured oil on canvas

Charging down its stone cut course, torrents of water rush through grey boulders past green and gold bracken. Headlong and unrestrained the waters crash downstream, while above they splash into the airy distance a glowing, hazy tiara of misty sunlight. Thick brushstrokes of radiant oils define the powerful landscape carrying your eye through a complex composition of dynamic diagonals cleaved with the vertical cascade, caressed with a delicate crossing of gold dusted branches. A painting of power and energy balanced by graceful strokes of beauty, I wanted “Rushing Desires” to be about texture, movement, mystery and the cathartic feeling in nature.

To see Rushing Desires and more of Niki Gulley’s textured oil paintings, visit her booth, #120, at the Wells Street Art Show this weekend in downtown Chicago. chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=141
Or, e-mail Niki Gulley for more information on her contemporary landscape paintings.

LAST DAY to Register for Santa Fe Painting / Photo Workshop

June 3, 2011

“Outskirts of Santa Fe” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 8” x 16” oil on board

Painted with thick oil paint and palette knives, I wanted to capture the craggy mountains and dense sage brush indicative of the unique New Mexico landscape.

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Reservation deadline: June 4th
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.


To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at

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Plein Air Painting in Santa Fe with Niki Gulley

June 1, 2011

“Afternoon in Taos” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • 14” x 11” • oil

Not the traditional view of Rancho de Taos, but I loved this adobe wall and archway and how the colors set against the turquoise blue sky contrasted beautifully. I liked how the hollyhocks angled into the scene and softened up the adobe mass, while continuing the theme of rounded edges found in the architecture and again in the gorgeous fluffy clouds.

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Reservation deadline: June 4th
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.


To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at

Deadline Approaching for Painting / Photo Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico

May 30, 2011

“High Road to Taos” ©2011 Niki Gulley
SOLD • pastel • 14″ x 11″

On our last trip to New Mexico, we were enjoying the scenic route along the high road to Taos from Santa Fe, and marveling at the wide open vistas and beautiful rugged landscape when we came upon these lone sagebrush set against the dramatic white billowing clouds in the background, and we just had to paint and photograph it. Choosing pastels to capture the fleeting moment quickly, I got the scene blocked in just before the wind blew those beautiful clouds away, and the reason why plein air painting is so magical!

Santa Fe is the muse of many famous artists and photographers, and that could be you, too! Join us for our Plein-Air Painting and Photography Workshop this August in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You will work at different picturesque locations, painting and (or) photographing scenes that inspired Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams. Santa Fe offers breathtaking vistas; sunny, dry weather, world class restaurants, galleries and shopping ensconced in a charming, 400 year old Spanish Colonial city that welcomes the new and exciting and never grows old.
This is a not to be missed workshop in “The Land of Enchantment.”

Plein-Air Painting & Photo Workshop
Taught by Scott Williams & Niki Gulley
Santa Fe, New Mexico
August 7 -13 / 2011
Reservation deadline: June 4th
See nikigulley.com/?page_id=13 for more details and to register.


To see more of Niki Gulley’s contemporary landscape paintings in person, please stop by her booth at the 57th Street Art Fair in Chicago this weekend. Visit 57thstreetartfair.org for more information.

E-mail Niki Gulley with any questions or visit her website at

Passage of Illumination – New textured oil painting

May 27, 2011

“Passage of Illumination” ©2011 Niki Gulley
48” x 60” textured oil on canvas

Wander down this path that beckons you and lift your eyes heavenward to that cobalt vault lined by a rainbow of vivid greens and golds and gleaming crimson, purposely choosing these warm vibrant colors to suggest a hopeful future. Like an ancient chorus these joyful trees sing with dazzling colors, a call and respond to each other across the enticing path that traces verses of light and dark, hue and color, an alluring siren song leading you into the depths of this radiant, vanishing horizon. A painting rich in color and light, joy and energy its double bowed composition gently leads gently you into this magical, blissful destination.

To see more of my contemporary landscape oil paintings, stop by my booth at the Saint Charles Fine Art Show this weekend in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles. See dtown.org/events/fine_art_show.asp for details.

E-mail Niki Gulley for more information.